Chapter Twenty One
Bella
Esme seemed a little tense as she joined me in the kitchen after Carlisle left.
"I should ring my dad, tell him about the prowler you saw if you haven't already."
I doubted Esme had but then she didn't know I had recognised my mystery visitor as her foster son Edward.
"I think he's long gone by now Bella"
"I should still tell my dad. The police should know if there's someone prowling the town."
She shrugged picking up my empty mug and taking it to the sink,
"I suppose you're right but I don't suppose it was serious, not if they knocked the door. Prowlers don't usually do that do they? Maybe I got it wrong"
I put the kettle on wondering why Edward had been knocking on my door and why Esme had been so scared I might answer the knock.
"Do you want coffee?"
"No thank you, I'm on a special diet."
"Really? The same diet Jasper's on? I don't think I've seen him eat or drink anything"
That was true, I hadn't which now I came to think about it seemed very odd.
Esme dried my mug and put it down by the kettle,
"We both have a blood disorder, that's why Carlisle and I took Rosalie and Jasper in."
"Really? I'm sorry I didn't know"
I didn't believe her either but I wasn't going to call her a liar outright, there was certainly something odd about the Cullen family, I just didn't know what. The ache in my chest which had faded shortly after Esme appeared was back again now and I rubbed the spot which seemed to amuse her but I ignored the smile it engendered.
"Well I have to tell Charlie something when he finds you stayed here with me tonight"
"I'll ring him now and tell him I was slightly concerned so I decided it would be better if I stayed with you here as you were alone."
I waited until she'd done this then made a fresh coffee for myself and looked over at her plucking up courage for what I needed to say.
"You have something on your mind Bella"
"Yes. I don't want to appear rude or ungrateful but I don't like lying to my dad. He's been very good to me so why don't you tell me what's really going on and why Edward was here earlier knocking on my door."
She froze, her eyes wide with the shock of discovering that I knew who my "prowler" had been,
"Why was Alice so adamant I didn't answer the door to her boyfriend? Is he dangerous?"
"No of course not, that's a silly idea."
I sat down opposite her and squared my shoulders,
"I don't think I'm being silly. Both you and Carlisle fell over yourselves to make sure Edward went away, you were frightened of something and I want to know what. What did he want knocking on my door? Is he dangerous Mrs Cullen? You can talk to me or you can talk to my dad but you will speak to someone. I spent years being scared of people but that's over now, I'm not going to be frightened by your son or anyone else."
"Please Bella, drop it for all our sakes. He's going away, you wont see him again I promise but don't force the issue, it would dangerous for all of us."
"Dangerous? For who? Me? Or you? Or Edward? Come on Mrs Cullen tell me"
I think she was about to speak when there was a rap on the door and I heard one of the only two voices that I trusted, Jasper was outside. Leaving Esme sitting at the kitchen table I went throughand opened the front door to find myself in Jaspers arms.
"Are you OK Bella? I heard there had been a prowler and I had to come over."
I pulled free feeling a little flustered,
"Yes, I'm fine thanks. Come and join us"
He continued to hold my hand as we walked back to the kitchen and I got the distinct impression that he was relieved to find me in one piece. Esme glanced at him once as he sat down beside me still holding my hand in his cold one as he did so.
"She knows."
Jasper jerked slightly hearing Esme's words then turned to me,
"You saw Edward?"
"Yes and someone is going to explain things to me or I'm going to let my dad do the investigating."
They looked at each other again and Jasper nodded to his foster mother who sighed then began,
"Edward has a problem with girls. He doesn't hurt them but he can be overpowering sometimes. He would have come in and kept you talking for hours and he might well have scared you but I promise he's never hurt anyone and none of us would let him hurt you. He forgot his medication and that's when he gets these weird ideas that girls find him irresistible."
"Medication? Is that why you took him in? Like Jasper?"
His eyes flickered to Esme who grimaced,
"Sorry Jasper I had to tell Bella about our blood disorder, she noticed I didn't drink anything either"
"Oh I see."
"Yes, Carlisle and I take on children with medical problems although Edwards is more psychological really."
I wanted to believe them and it made sense a doctor taking on sick foster kids. I'd never found Edward threatening although he did seem fascinated by me,
"Is that why you don't want to involve Dad?"
"Its hard for us, for Edward, but we watch out for him. None of us wants him to be labelled as crazy and he didn't break in or anything or attempt to did he?"
I shook my head,
"No, he just knocked on the front door."
"So he didn't scare you?"
"No Mrs Cullen, Alice did that with her story of a prowler. Why didn't you just leave me let Edward in and then turn up?"
"She panicked Bella and I apologise for that but he's going to Alaska for some special treatment now, maybe he wont need medication after that."
"Alaska? Wow"
We talked about Edward for a little longer although my senses were being overwhelmed by Jaspers closeness, he still held my hand although his remained cold and I wondered if it was related to his blood disorder but I didn't like to ask. I just enjoyed his company and I was sad when he left promising to pick me up after lunch tomorrow. Esme stayed although I told her she didn't need to and that I wouldn't say anything about Edward to my dad, there didn't seem much point as he was leaving Forks. When Esme told me Alice was going with him I understood but realised I would miss her. As the first person to speak to me at Forks High I had grown to like her, the sunny smiles and the almost inexhaustible supply of energy she seemed to possess. I made Esme up a bed in the spare room although we didn't go to bed until almost three in the morning as she told me about her life as a foster mother. How when she and Carlisle found out they couldn't have any children of their own they had decided to give a home to children with medical problems who didn't have anyone else.
I'd left Charlie a note so he knew Esme was staying in the spare room and when I woke up in themorning I heard him moving about downstairs but couldn't hear any voices so I assumed Esme was still asleep. I grabbed a quick shower and went down only to find she'd already left.
"Yeah, she made me something to eat, said she couldn't sleep very well. It was good of her to spend the night with you after seeing that prowler around. Anyway she said she hadn't minded at all but they had visitors coming today and she had to get back to prepare dinner. I like the Cullens, they're a little old fashioned, the kids are very polite and thoughtful"
"Yes, it was sweet of her. Did you find the prowler?"
I knew he hadn't but it would have seemed odd if I hadn't asked.
"Nope, no sign of anyone but I'm stepping up patrols for a few days anyway. Don't worry honey you'll be safe enough."
I nodded, I knew better than he did how true that statement was.
"Did you remember I'm going out this afternoon with Jasper? Only to Port Angeles so we wont be late, about seven maybe, and before you ask I'm up to date with my homework"
He smiled,
"I know, I've seen you working hard enough so go have a good time."
"I think I'll take the truck, save Jasper borrowing his sisters car again, after all he did that last time"